Star Apps: American Idol Live! tour

American Idol's top 3--Candice Glover, Kree Harrison, and Angie Miller--give us the download on the apps they'll be using most on the road this summer.

Attention "American Idol" superfans: if you've been in major withdrawal since Candice Glover won Season 12 of Fox's blockbuster talent competition last May, you'll get your fix soon enough. On July 19, the American Idol Live! tour--a 30-stop national extravaganza, featuring the top 11 contestants--makes its way across the U.S. to a city near you. Expect to see Amber Holcomb, Angie Miller, Burnell Taylor, Candice Glover, Curtis Finch Jr, Devin Velez, Janelle Arthur, Kree Harrison, Lazaro Arbos, Paul Jolley, and fan-saved Aubrey Cleland re-creating your favorite performances from this past season and surprising you with never-before-seen numbers.

Download.com caught up with the top three--winner Candice Glover, first runner-up Kree Harrison, and second runner-up Angie Miller--as they prepared to embark on their first-ever tour, to uncover which iOS apps they've packed to amuse themselves, write music, and stay connected with family, friends, and fans, while out on the road.

Which of the social media apps do you prefer and why?
I prefer Twitter because it's a better way to stay connected. With Facebook you post a status update and there are so many people commenting. It's just easier to respond on Twitter and remain connected to them. I try to get on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter as much as I can.

What makes a good Instagram photo?
If you're doing something epic--like I was on top of the Empire State Building, in New York--I think that things like that, the once-in-a-lifetime stuff, is definitely Instagram-worthy.

Do you use any apps for music writing?
No, I use an old-fashioned pen and paper if I'm feeling inspired, but if I can't get to one, I'd use the NotePad on my iPhone.

You've tried out for the show in the past without any success. But when you returned to audition this season, you said you had done your research, musically. I'm curious: were there any apps that you used for music research?
I have iDownloads PLUS and it's an easy way to get music on your phone. I used that and I used the iTunes app a lot, too, like if I had to do a performance. When I did "You've Changed" by Billie Holiday on the show, I used that to download that song and get familiar with all of the different versions. Or I would go on YouTube and watch every version so I could find ways to make it my own. I think that really helped me.

What is your favorite feature of the American Idol app?
I like the fact that you can go on the app and look at all the behind-the-scenes photos and see what we were doing in our spare time when we weren't onstage. They have all these photos of us and that's a better way to connect with us, when you can see what we were doing; and if Angie and I were in a picture making a funny face, they would always come and take photos of us just doing normal things. I like that feature.

Now let's play a game: If you had to compare each of the judges and Ryan Seacrest to an app, who would be what?
Nicki Minaj would be Twitter because Nicki is so open-minded and speaks her mind and is really honest, and Twitter is a good place to do that. I think Mariah Carey would be the MySpace app because she knows the industry in and out, she's been here before all the others, and knows what it takes to be successful. Keith Urban would be Instagram because of how appealing he is to all the young girls, and Instagram is all about the visuals. Randy would be Facebook, because everybody knows and loves Facebook, and everybody loves Randy because he's been around for 12 years. I think they'd have to invent a special one for Ryan. It would be MySpace, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram all in one, because that's how popular and hardworking Ryan is.

First Runner-Up: Kree Harrison

Kree Harrison
(Credit: Cory Miller)

While you're out on the "American Idol Live!" summer tour, which apps will you be using the most?
I use Tango a lot to stay in touch with my friends and family. I like Vine. I've really gotten into Instagram a lot, which is fun. And then some Twitter. I'm pretty terrible at Twitter, but I try to keep it interesting.

What makes a good Instagram photo?
I'm not a selfie kind of person. But it has to be visually nice and offer an insight into who you are as a person.

Do you use any apps for music writing?
I use the NotePad on my phone and if I have a lyric I'll type it out. But if I have a hook, and I don't want to lose it, I'll use the Voice Memo.

What is your favorite feature of the American Idol app?
The whole app is cool. You can look up specific contestants and favorite performances and also you get to see interviews with anyone who's been a guest on the show or even the judges. Now that "Idol" is on break, you can go back and reminisce.

You have experienced a lot of loss in your life. When you're having a down day, is there an app that can help?
Like a lot of people, iTunes, because if they're feeling emotional, they'll listen to music.

Is there a particular song?
I feel the whole world knows my obsession with Otis Redding is pretty strong. I really like Alabama Shakes, stuff that's really uplifting, like Rihanna--that good road trip playlist that everybody has, to cheer me up.

Now let's play a game: If you had to compare each of the judges and Ryan Seacrest to an app, who would be what?
Nicki Minaj would be Twitter. For Mariah Carey, Instagram, because she's very family oriented and posts a lot of photos of her babies. Keith Urban would be the ABC.com app, because I used to use that one a lot to keep up with "Nashville" and "Modern Family," and he reminds me of "Nashville." Randy Jackson would be Vine for no other reason than that's another app that I have. Ryan Seacrest would be Instagram, too, because he's always posting pictures as well.

Second Runner-Up: Angie Miller

Angie Miller
(Credit: Fox Publicity)

While you're out on the "American Idol Live!" summer tour, how are you going to stay in touch with family and friends?
Texting and FaceTime.

While you're out on the road, which apps will you be using the most, in general?
The ones that I'll be using the most are probably Twitter and Instagram, because it's all about social media.

What makes a good Instagram photo?
I'm not the kind of person who likes to post a bunch of selfies. That's just not me. I like doing lots of live stuff, like if there's ever a concert, or on the "American Idol" show, pictures of live performances, or talking about who I'm hanging out with this weekend and posting pictures of my brothers and friends--stuff that's interesting.

What makes an important Tweet?
Especially right now, things that have to do with my career in music, like any songs that I'm working on or releasing, where I'm singing, or what I'm doing. I think that those things are important because fans want to know what I'm working on and what I'm doing and I want them to know. Like I don't want to tweet, "Hey, I just bought a pair of random shoes."

Do you use any apps for music writing?
I use Voice Memo all the time, if there's a line or melody I want to remember. Then if there are lyrics, I use the NotePad app and write it down.

What is your favorite feature of the American Idol app?
All of the pictures from live performances...I go there and check them out and put them up on Instagram. There are so many pictures and videos on it, all the behind-the-scenes stuff that you can't see from watching TV, which you can see on the app.

Now let's play a game: If you had to compare each of the judges and Ryan Seacrest to an app, who would be what?
I would make Nicki Minaj Twitter because she says things short and sweet, but speaks her mind and is right on. Mariah Carey would have to be something you could talk a lot on, so maybe NotePad, because she goes on for a while and has lots to say. Keith Urban is so genuine, real, and honest, and so homey like Facebook. Randy Jackson knows what's hot. He's always like, "Oh, you're in it to win it; that's so hot." It would have to be something current and new and the big app--like Vine. Ryan Seacrest needs to be the head app that everybody has and everybody likes, like the messaging app, because he's Ryan Seacrest.